Mandelson said the meeting would be instrumental in deciding whether the Doha round can be brought to a conclusion.

"Pressure is growing on all sides," said German Economics Minister Michael Glos, who pointed out that the EU was holding parallel talks on free trade agreements with India and South Korea as a precaution against a possible failure of the Doha round.

An agreement among the G4 members on concessions needed to reduce barriers to trade in agriculture and industrial goods is seen as vital to the success of the Doha round.

The talks, launched in the capital of Qatar in November 2001, were originally due to have been completed in 2004. Negotiators are hoping for progress before US President George W. Bush's "fast-track" authority to negotiate trade deals expires at the end of June.

Non-governmental organisations have called on the G4 to produce real benefits for developing countries or to halt the Doha round altogether. Oxfam said the world's less-well-off nations need fairer trade rules.

The EU wants the US to slash subsidies to American farmers because of the distortion this causes to world trade in agriculture goods. Washington in turn is demanding a cut in high European farm tariffs.

Both Brussels and Washington are pressing Brazil and India to open up their markets to foreign services and manufactured goods by reducing tariffs.
Source: IANS